Determination of pomological, morphological, antioxidant activity, biochemical content and nutritional content values of kumquat (Citrus japonica) accessions using multivariate analysis methods

Authors : Yazgan Tunç

Pages : 549-569

Doi:10.18185/erzifbed.1630129

View : 65 | Download : 52

Publication Date : 2025-08-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study aimed to determine the pomological, morphological, biochemical, antioxidant, and nutritional properties of 33 naturally grown kumquat (Citrus japonica) accessions using multivariate statistical methods. The analysis revealed significant variation among the accessions. Tukey’s multiple comparison test (p<0.05) showed that fruit weight ranged from 1.85 (‘K2’) to 13.23 g (‘K1’), while fruit width varied between 10.43 (‘K2’) and 25.01 mm (‘K1’). Pearson’s correlation analysis demonstrated a strong positive correlation between fruit weight and fruit width (r = 0.89**), indicating that heavier fruits tend to be wider. Principal component analysis (PCA) explained 83.93% of the total variation, with PC1 accounting for 17.25%, primarily influenced by leaf area (0.36), petiole length (0.38), and fruit width (0.47). The biplot analysis showed that ‘K18’, ‘K21’, and ‘K24’ were located outside the 95% confidence ellipse, indicating their distinct phenotypic characteristics. Heat map analysis revealed that accessions ‘K32’, ‘K24’, and ‘K21’ were strongly associated with high fruit weight, leaf area, and maturity index, while ‘K8’, ‘K6’, and ‘K20’ were linked to high mineral content, particularly iron, manganese, and zinc. When all datasets were collectively analyzed, the accessions with the highest values were identified as ‘K13’, ‘K12’, ‘K15’, ‘K10’, and ‘K9’, making them promising candidates for further breeding and selection studies. These findings highlight the significant genetic diversity among kumquat accessions and their potential for breeding programs. Future studies should focus on the genetic basis of these variations and their agronomic performance under different environmental conditions.
Keywords : Islah, Genetik çeşitlilik, Çok değişkenli analiz, Citrus japonica, Hatay

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